Ideas for Easy Winter Origami Crafts That Even 2-Year-Olds Will Love
Since it’s the cold season, how about enjoying some indoor origami play? Here, we’ll introduce simple winter origami ideas that you can do together with two-year-olds.
From Santa Claus and Christmas trees to snow bunnies, there are plenty of creations that capture the season! The activities also include elements that promote children’s fine motor development, such as aligning corners and using glue.
All of the projects feature simple steps, making them perfect for fun, hands-on creation in childcare settings—so give them a try.
Because the children’s work is regarded as “artworks,” we use the term “seisaku” (制作) in the text to refer to their creations.
Ideas for Easy Winter Origami Crafts That Even 2-Year-Olds Will Love (1–10)
Easy snowman made with three sheets of origami paper
Here’s an easy way to make a snowman using just three sheets of origami paper.
It’s perfect for cold winter days, at-home activities, or December events, and it’s great for crafts in kindergartens and preschools! Make the snowman’s head and body separately using two small sheets of origami paper, then glue them together.
Next, use a sheet that’s 1/16 the size of a regular origami paper to make the snowman’s hat.
For the eyes, color round stickers black and stick them on—this gives you neat, simple eyes.
If working with small origami paper is tricky, we recommend trying it with regular-size paper first!
Origami snow rabbit
If you’re looking for an easy winter craft, here’s an origami snow rabbit you can start right away! It’s designed for two-year-olds, so there are very few folds, making it easy to create with a teacher’s help.
To make it, fold a sheet of origami paper into a triangle, then fold three corners—the left, right, and top—triangularly inward.
The key is to make the left triangle fold a bit larger! Flip it over, then finish by adding the rabbit’s ears, eyes, nose, and mouth.
You can also make the ears by folding a smaller piece of origami paper.
A Santa Claus made with just three folds
Here’s a way to fold a Santa Claus with just three folds of origami paper.
First, fold the paper in half into a triangle.
Open it once, then fold the left and right sides in toward the crease—and it’s already done.
The white section at the bottom, where the reverse side of the paper shows, is treated as Santa’s face, so you can draw his face with crayons or use round stickers to add eyes and a nose.
If you make a fourth fold by slightly bending the tip of the hat, Santa’s expression will look a little different.
mandarin orange
A sweet-and-tangy winter fruit! Here’s an origami idea for making a mandarin orange.
You’ll need one sheet of orange origami paper and a green pen or crayon.
First, fold the paper into a triangle twice, then unfold it.
Next, tuck about 1 cm of the top and bottom to the back, and fold the left and right sides in toward the center.
Finally, use the pen or crayon to color the stem area green, and you’re done! Each finished piece will have its own personality, which sounds fun.
Give it a try!
A Christmas tree made with just four folds
How about making a Christmas tree out of origami? It only takes four folds to complete, so even 2-year-olds can enjoy making it.
If you use colorful origami paper, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind tree.
Let the kids decorate it using their own imagination! They can stick on sparkly stickers, draw with crayons—whatever they like.
Once the tree is finished, you can display it in the room to boost the Christmas spirit.
If everyone makes one together, lining up lots of trees will look really lovely!
snow rabbit
A white sheet of origami paper transforms into a snow rabbit! Here are ideas for making a snow rabbit with origami.
You’ll need one sheet of white origami paper, two small pieces of green origami paper, a red round sticker, and colored pencils.
First, fold the white origami paper into a triangle, then tuck it on the back to form the snow rabbit.
Next, use the green origami paper to make the ears.
Finally, attach the parts and draw the face with the round sticker and colored pencils, and you’re done! The steps are simple, so give it a try!
Kite flying made with origami
Here’s a kite craft you can make with kids.
It really flies, so make it together and have fun as New Year’s approaches.
First, fold a sheet of origami paper using a kite fold.
Fold the left and right corners toward the left and right edges to make crease lines, then unfold.
Next, tape the kite’s tails onto the three vertical straight crease lines.
Attach kite strings to the upper left and right corners, and finally, align them with the center crease and tie the two strings together into a single kite string.
It’s done! Can’t wait to see how high it flies.
